Missing Archive of Case XX

[JSC]

Hello,
I was wondering if anyone has heard the term " Lost Dot Series " or Missing Dot Series Knives by W.R. Case Cutlery?

[kennedy knives]

It was 1990, 1991 ,1992 & part of 1993 , Parker owned Case until he went in to bankruptcy in 1990 and Rivers Associates became the new owners It was Jim's idea to put year dates on Case Knives instead of dot's I understand that they are low production . In the Middle of 1993 they started to put the dots on Case Knives again . They also produced a Missing Dot sets . In 1990 there was 500 serial # 10 Dot knives . A Black bone Peanut, Dark Red Muskrat, Stag Trapper & Rosewood Canoe
1991 there was 500 serial # 9 dot Knives. A Smooth Black Trapper, Stag Peanut, Rosewood Muskrat & Dark Red Canoe
1992 Same again 500 ea. 8 dots . A Smooth Black Bone Muskart, Dark Red Trapper, Stag Canoe & Rosewood Peanut
1993 same again 500 ea. #7 Dots . A Rosewood Trapper , Dark Red Peanut, Stag Muskrat Smooth Black Canoe
Some one else may add to this
Gary

[Old Hunter]

Gary, great info! I was aware of (and own several) year dated Case Knives from the early 1990’s, but until I read your post I was unaware of the "Missing Dot" sets. Another small bit of knife knowledge gained. (Thanks AAPK!). OH

[Gumshoe]

This was new to me also. I would like to see a photograph of a tang stamped from the "missing dot" sets. Just curious.

[Mumbleypeg]

From the Case Historian Katie Shonts as posted on the Case Collector’s Club forum:

Hi,

Here's the history.....
In 1990 under ownership of James Parker, W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. changed the dot dating system to actual dates. In 1990 the year would be stamped into the blade.

19 USA 90.

This took place for items done in 1990, 1991, 1992, and part of 1993. In 1993 under new ownership, Zippo addressed the demands of our customers and collectors, and began the dot dating system again which seems to be most effective and legible in comparison to the actual year.

A side note is that in small patterns, it was often difficult to tell the difference between 0 and 2 and 2 and 3.

In 1994, through much influence again from our customers and collectors and their desire to find those missing dots, Case produced the Missing Dot Collection. This collection of knives would include four knives for each of the years featuring the new 1990's dot dating system.

Patterns included the Trapper ('54), Peanut ('20), Muskrat (MUSKRAT), and Canoe ('131), in each of the four sets. One set for each year; 16 knives in total. The items were: 1990 Ten Dot #01840; 1991 Nine Dot #01841; 1992 Eight Dot #01842; and 1993 Seven Dot #01843. 500 serialized sets were made for each missing year of dot dating.

Along come the need for new products for our 1995 catalog and the idea to make the bird hook in the yellow family seemed like a good move. In most circumstances we do not have the correct blade date for the knife. The correct pattern stamp is a rarity unless of course we are making a bone knife that we've already done in the past then it will fit in nicely.

We marked all products during this time with a PROTO cold stamp which means that it was stamped into the knife blade after it was heat treated.

This knife shows that it is dated from this time (1991) as it was the only '47 style clip blade that we had in our "bunks" warehouse to fit this pattern in 1994. Hence, you'll notice that this knife does not have a pattern stamp or the correct date stamp to its production. The blade that was used from one produced for the Missing Dot Collection most likely in 1994.

Another side note is that our 1995 catalog features a wide variety of blade date stamps.

These types of items are often caught today and we have a bit more control over the samples produced, but none-the-less, this knife is genuine. This also has a lot to do with why we make samples. We make them with scrap components to determine if we like it before proceeding with production.

As they say, every knife has a story.

Unfortunately the post is from 2011, the knife in question was a yellow Delrin-handled 3247 H (bird hook) pattern but the picture was photobucket and is no longer able to be viewed.

Ken

[JSC]

Hello Gumshoe,
Gary is correct with accurate information about the lost Dot Series. Here's some pictures you may like to see of those tang stamps.

[JSC]

I'm Sorry Mumbleypeg I forgot to include you also for that great data on the rare missing dot series.

[1967redrider]

Isn't this knife of Jerry's an example of the lost dots tang stamp? Or am I not understanding?

[Mumbleypeg]

Not exactly. I’ll try to explain it as I understand it. Beginning in 1990 Case changed their date code stamping from the 20 years old “dots” method. Dropped the dots and instead stamped the year of manufacture on the tang.

19 USA 90.

They did this in 1990, 91, 92 and part of 1993. Then they changed back to using dots again. Then they decided to produce a limited run of knives having the “missing dots”, in other words a run of knives having 10 dots (for 1990), 9 dots ( for 1991), and so on. These knives all had serialized bolsters. In other words, as they would have been had they been produced in those years. These limited runs were called the “missing dots” series. Which is kind of confusing because those limited run knives do have dots on them. So if you see a 1990 knife without the 19 USA 90 stamp on it but instead it has 10 dots and scrolled serialized bolsters, it’s a missing dots knife. See the examples JSC posted earlier in this thread.

The quote from Case Historian Katie Shonts lists the patterns and quantities produced.

In 1994, through much influence again from our customers and collectors and their desire to find those missing dots, Case produced the Missing Dot Collection. This collection of knives would include four knives for each of the years featuring the new 1990's dot dating system.

Patterns included the Trapper ('54), Peanut ('20), Muskrat (MUSKRAT), and Canoe ('131), in each of the four sets. One set for each year; 16 knives in total. The items were: 1990 Ten Dot #01840; 1991 Nine Dot #01841; 1992 Eight Dot #01842; and 1993 Seven Dot #01843. 500 serialized sets were made for each missing year of dot dating.

That’s my understanding. Someone please correct if I’m wrong.

Ken

[1967redrider]

Thanks again, Ken.